God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace.

You must help me by your prayers, so that many will give thanks to God on my behalf for the blessing granted me in answer to many prayers.

It was because I was sure of this that I wanted to come to see you before going anywhere else, to give you a double pleasure;

for to all the promises of God he supplies the "Yes" that confirms them. That is why we utter the "Amen" through him, when we give glory to God.

and put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts, as earnest-money.

and he has qualified me to serve him in the interests of a new agreement, not in writing but of spirit. For what is written kills, but the Spirit gives life.

For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in my heart, to give me the light of the knowledge of God's glory, that is on the face of Christ.

For every day I live I am being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be visible in my mortal nature.

It is God himself who has prepared me for this change, and he has given me the Spirit as his guaranty.

and not only by his coming, but by the comfort you had given him, for he told me how you longed to see me, how sorry you were, and how you took my part, which made me happier still.

See how earnest this God-given pain has made you! how eager to clear yourselves, how indignant, how alarmed, how eager to see me, how zealous, how avenging! At every point you have proved that you are clear of this matter.

For they have given to the utmost of their ability, as I can bear them witness, and beyond it,

If a man is willing to give, the value of his gift is in its proportion to what he has, not to what he has not.

So you must give proof to them before all the churches of your love, and justify my pride in you.

Everyone must give what he has made up his mind to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion; God loves a man who is glad to give.

For you put up with it if a man makes you his slaves, or lives on you, or takes you in, or puts on airs, or gives you a slap in the face.

Five times I have been given one less than forty lashes, by the Jews.

I have to boast. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations given me by the Lord.

That is why I write this while I am away from you, so that when I come, I may not have to be harsh in my use of the authority the Lord has given me, for it was to build you up, not to pull you down.